The French Revolution

Long-term Causes of the French Revolution

• Absolutism• Unjust socio-political system (Old Regime)• Poor harvests which left peasant farmers with

little money for taxes• Influence of Enlightenment philosophes• System of mercantilism which restricted trade• Influence of other successful revolutions– England’s Glorious Revolution (1688-1689)– American Revolution (1775-1783)

Short-term Causes of the French Revolution

Bankrupt• Caused by deficit spending• Financial ministers proposed changes– But these were rejected

• Assembly of Notables voted down taxation for the nobility in 1787

Short-term Causes of the French Revolution

Fear• Worst famine in memory• Hungry, impoverished peasants feared that

nobles at Estates-General were seeking greater privileges

• Attacks on nobles occurred throughout the country in 1789

Short-term Causes of the French Revolution

Estates General• Louis XVI had no choice but to call for a meeting

of the Estates-General to find a solution to the bankruptcy problem– All three estates

• Had not met since 1614• Set in motion a series of events which resulted in

the abolition of the monarchy and a completely new socio-political system for France

Four Phases of the French Revolution

National Assembly (1789-1791)

Legislative Assembly (1791-1792)

Convention (1792-1795)

Directory (1795-1799)

French Society under the Old Regime

• In France, people were divided into three estates– First Estate

• High-ranking members of the Church• Privileged class

– Second Estate• Nobility• Privileged class

– Third Estate• Everyone else – from peasants in the countryside to wealthy

bourgeoisie merchants in the cities• Unprivileged class

The Old RegimeUnder the ancien regime, or old order, everyone in France belonged to one of three classes…

First Estate Second Estate Third Estate

•The CLERGY

•Enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege

•Owned about 10 percent of land, collected tithes, and paid no taxes

•Provided some social services

•The NOBILITY

•Owned land but enjoyed little income from it.

•Despised absolutism

•Feared losing traditional privilege, especially exemption from taxes

•BOURGEOISIE and PEASANTS

•Peasants were 98 % of French population

•Resented privilege of first and second estates

•Burdened by taxes, miserable wages faced hunger, starvation

Government under the Old Regime:The Divine Right of Kings

• Monarch ruled by divine right– God put the world in motion– God put some people in positions of power– Power is given by God– No one can question God– No one can question someone put in power by

God– Questioning the monarchy was blasphemy

because it meant questioning God

Discontent among the Third Estate• Best jobs were always reserved for nobles• Urban workers earned miserable wages• Peasants taxed on land, necessary goods

and spices• Nobles imposed “manor dues” – tax paid

directly to noble instead of state• Only nobles had the right to hunt wild game

Enlightenment thinkers led people to question the logic of the Old Regime.

Economic Troubles• French government engaged in deficit

spending• Louis XIV had left France deeply in debt. • Wars, a general rise in costs in the 1700s,

and the lavish court were incredibly costly. • The government borrowed more and more

money.• Bad harvests in the late 1780s sent food

prices soaring and brought hunger to poorer peasants and city dwellers.

Economic Conditions under theOld Regime

• France’s economy was based primarily on agriculture

• Peasant farmers of France bore the burden of taxation

• Poor harvests meant that peasants had trouble paying their regular taxes– Could not afford to have their taxes raised

• Bourgeoisie often managed to gather wealth– But were upset that they paid taxes while nobles did

not

Philosophy of the French Revolution: The Enlightenment (Age of Reason)

• Scientists during the Renaissance had discovered laws that govern the natural world

• Intellectuals – philosophes – began to ask if natural laws might also apply to human beings– Particularly to human institutions such as governments– Philosophes were secular in thinking – they used reason and

logic, rather than faith, religion, and superstition, to answer important questions

– Used reason and logic to determine how governments are formed• Tried to figure out what logical, rational principles work to tie people to

their governments

– Questioned the divine right of kings

Absolute Monarchy Weakens• The heirs of Louis XIV were not able to

solve the economic crisis that afflicted France.

• Louis XV pursued pleasure before business and ran up France’s debts

• Louis XVI was well-meaning but weak and indecisive• Louis XVI’s economic advisor suggested

he tax the First and Second Estates (those Estates forced the King to fire his advisor).

•First/Second Estates forced Louis XVI to call a meeting the Estates General to try to regain some of the power they lost under absolute monarchs

Meeting of the Estates-General:May 5, 1789

• Voting was conducted by estate– Each estate had one vote– First and Second Estates could operate as a bloc to stop the

Third Estate from having its way

First Estate + Second Estate vs. Third Estate

• Representatives from the Third Estate demanded that voting be by population– This would give the Third Estate a great advantage

• Deadlock resulted

Meeting of the Estates General• Delegates of the Third Estate left the

Estates General and declared themselves to be the National Assembly who represented France• They invited members of the other Estates

to help them write a Constitution for France

• When the hall they were supposed to meet in was locked, the National Assembly met on a tennis court

•Tennis Court Oath: •Delegates swore “never to separate and to meet whenever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution”